A leading charity for asylum-seekers is calling for a change to "unworkable government policy" ahead of the ninth annual Refugee Week, which begins on Monday.

The event is intended to raise awareness of issues facing refugees and asylum-seekers. It is also an opportunity for a marginalised community to showcase their talents.

As final preparations for the week are put in place, Sandy Buchan, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, believes that "a new and growing excluded class of people" is emerging due to what the charity are calling 'The Destitution Trap':

"Last year, 40% of our work was with destitute asylum-seekers and our caseworkers are encountering unprecedented levels of despair among this group," he said.

Under current law, refused asylum-seekers have no right to non-essential healthcare and are often denied food and shelter with discomfort acting as an incentive to co-operation.

Mr Buchan believes this serves little purpose: "For many the suffering has become extreme, long-term and ineffective in achieving the government's desired outcome."

Many asylum-seekers from war-torn countries such as Sudan, Iraq and Somalia are unable to return.

A 36-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of Congo who asked not to be named said: "I don't want to stay in the UK, as soon as it changes at home I am going but at the moment I can't return."

Andrew Dismore MP, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights insists that provisions be put in place for cases like this:

"The system of asylum seeker support is a confusing mess, and the policy of enforced destitution must cease," he said.

"We believe that the deliberate use of inhumane treatment is unacceptable".